Compression bandage system

Abstract

A compression bandaging system includes inner and outer bandages. The inner bandage is an inner skin facing, elongated, elastic bandage and includes an elongated, elastic substrate and an elongated foam layer affixed to a face of the substrate. The outer bandage is an outer, elongated, self-adhering elastic bandage having a compressive force when extended. In use, the outer bandage overlies the inner bandage.

Description

BACKGROUNDThis invention relates to compression bandage systems, in particular for the use in the treatment and / or management of venous leg ulceration.Compression bandages are known for use in the treatment of oedema and other venous and lymphatic disorders, e.g., of the lower limbs. An area where compression bandages are considered particularly useful is in the management and treatment of chronic wounds, such as venous leg ulcers.The mainstay in nearly all venous leg ulcer treatments is the application of a 3 to 4 layer compression bandage, whereby the concept of such multi-layer bandaging is the use of a combination of different types of bandage layers in order to apply pressure in layers (giving an accumulation of pressure) and to provide sustained compression together with rigidity. A common, widely used bandage is a four-layer system including an inner layer of absorbent orthopedic wool, a second layer crepe bandage, a third layer of light compression bandage and a fourth layer...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The compression bandaging system can be used to provide desired therapeutic effect for extended periods of time. The compression bandaging system can be used such that the inner bandage faces the skin and the outer bandage overlies the inner bandage. The inner skin facing, elongated, elastic bandage can adhere to the outer, elongated, self-adhering elastic bandage. In use, the inner skin facing, elongated, elastic bandage can adhere to the outer, elongated, self-adhering elastic bandage under elastic extension without the use of a fastening mechanism. In some embodiments, the system is free of any additional elongated bandages.

As mentioned above, in use of bandaging systems described herein, the exposed face 14 of the foam layer 12 facing directly towards and coming into the contact with the skin of the patient demonstrates a particularly desirable and effective fastening onto the skin of the patient, which facilitates the minimization of tendencies of the bandage system towards slippage after application. To allow for desirable contouring of the foam layer to the particular limb of the patient and thus further enhanced, advantageous fastening of the foam onto the skin, the foam preferably has a thickness greater than 1.6 mm, more preferably greater than 2 mm. Within this range, a thickness of 10 mm or less is suitable; 8 mm or less being more suitable, 6 mm or less even more suitable, 5 mm or less yet even more suitable, 4 mm or less most suitable. To ensure such desirable fastening, the outer, exposed face 14 of the foam layer 12 is typically substantially free of materials, e.g., which could interfere with the foam-skin interface, being affixed to said face of the foam layer, such as fibers, nettings, and anti-adherent films. In some embodiments, the outer, exposed face 14 of the foam layer 12 (the face not affixed to substrate 16) does not comprise a self-adhering material. In other words, the outer, exposed face 14 of the foam layer 12 typically forms the innermost skin-facing surface of the inner bandage, with the possible exception of any optional tab material (typically having a width of 10% or less in the longitudinal direction of the bandage) at one or both terminal transverse ends of the bandage.

Problems solved by technology

Although such 3 to 4 layer bandaging systems provide sufficient pressure for therapeutic treatment and / or management of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers, the process of applying such bandages, however, is difficult (for example to obtain the desired pressure and / or a relatively uniform pressure) as well as time consuming.

Also such bandages are prone to slipping and / or forming wrinkles after being applied which may result in insufficient and / or uneven compression being applied and / or cause discomfort to the patient.

Although other compression bandage systems (such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,759,566 and US 2002 / 0099318) have been proposed in attempts to provide bandaging systems that are easier to apply, in particular by inexperienced staff, such systems often do not provide the desired therapeutic compressive pressure or are not capable of maintaining the desired therapeutic compressive pressure for extended periods of time.

Furthermore, such systems typically still have a tendency (and in some cases an increased tendency) to slip and / or wrinkle after application.

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